Monday, June 23rd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Hope Slide, British Columbia

Make a Friend


The Kootenay Mountains are way behind us for now.  I had been walking a new mountain range as of very recently – The Cascades.  Every ecosystem of these mountain ranges seems to carry some uniqueness.  The unique feature of where I tread today was the strong presence of different wild flowers.  The rhododendrons really stand out.  The ponderosa pine had for me become conspicuous by its absence.  Everything here is very green.  The Similkameen River had been my amigo for several days.  Now it’s departed and it’s replaced by other streams. 

It was fun to experience the companionship of crows.  It almost seemed that around every other bend in the road, a pair of them (Heckle and Jeckle) would seem to be waiting, watching and squawking.  They would buzz around a bit before taking flight off in some direction, perhaps for the next traveller.  It was my last full day on the Crowsnest Pass.  Perhaps these black feathered dudes were expressing parting words. 

And of humans?  Much interaction.  An older man from France came cycling up a steep hill on destination to the Atlantic.  A biker by the name of Pete bombed up and down the highway passing me by several times, until finally he just had to stop and ask, “What are you doing?”  A couple, Ruth and Paul, were driving, then stopped to find out what my mission is all about.  Corey, a female trucker, blew a tire going eastward on the Crowsnest Pass.  She was stuck on the highway, and was also stuck talking to me about the virtues of walking and spirituality.  It was mutual gain.  Flat tires are often times opportunities for opening up new friendship. 

Friendship is a major component of spiritual life.  If we look at the life of Krishna, He had so many friends.  So make a friend, go for a walk. 

May the Source be with you!

40 KM

Rising Moon
→ ISKCON News

On the hundredth anniversary of the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, this brand new video about the TOVP project, which was so dear to Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has been released. Many of prominent leaders in ISKCON have spoken very well to encourage participation from all members of ISKCON society. This video was produced by a young devotee, resident of Sridham Mayapur, as a seva for the new Sri Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir. A video by Jaganath Kirtan Das.

Jakarta Ratha-Yatra 2014 (Album 23 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia celebrates its 487th anniversary on Sunday, 22 June 2014. Celebrating this occasion, the city hosts the Jakarnaval, a cultural parade from the National Monument to the Central Business District of Jakarta. Hare Krishna devotees took this opportunity to celebrate their third annual Ratha-Yatra festival, displaying the vibrant faces of Jagannatha (Krishna), His brother Baladeva and His sister Subhadra Devi. Attendees took note of them, especially the governor, who received the Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Bahasa Indonesia. Read more ›

Coming soon Tuesday Nights
→ Bhakti Lounge - The Heart Of Yoga in Wellington

Yoga Psychology

Hosted by Khadiravan Dasi who has a PHD in Yoga Psychology and over 15 years experience in the Bhakti-Yoga practise.
Workshop #1
Betrayal Resentment Forgiveness
Tuesday 15 July
Optional Yoga Class 5pm–545pm
Workshop 6pm–715pm
Dinner 715pm+

​Betrayal is one of the most painful experiences, which touches almost every life at some point.  How to recover, reconcile our jagged edges and rejuvenate?  How to forgive so we are no longer paradoxically chained to and controlled by the betrayer?​
Workshop #2

Beyond Ego​
Tuesday 22 July
Optional Yoga Class 5pm–545pm
Workshop 6pm–715pm
Dinner 715pm+
​We often think to be totally free from ego is the ideal, but yoga psychology has a surprise for us: there is false ego, cause of all darkened qualities: clashes, frustrations, selfishness, fear, anxiety…, and then real ego – the pure self, cause of all luminous qualities: harmony, selflessness, deep intelligence and connection. How to access that real ego? Yoga science offers practical techniques anyone can apply.
Workshop #3
Uprooting Anger
Tuesday 29 July
Optional Yoga Class 5pm-545pm
Workshop 6pm–715pm
Dinner 715pm+
​Anger, who needs it? and the things we do while angry… and regret later! Yoga Psychology fingers desire for the impermanent as the cause of anger, and it’s remedy: re-routing desire to a higher level. How to do that? Yoga science specialises in the art of desire management with simple, practical solutions.
$!2 per workshop ($10 students)
or $30 for all 3 ($20 students)
Prices include optional Yoga Class, Workshop and Dinner.
yogapsychology

 


Coming soon Tuesday nights
→ Bhakti Lounge - The Heart Of Yoga in Wellington

Yoga Psychology

Hosted by Khadiravan Dasi who has a PHD in Yoga Psychology and over 15 years experience in the Bhakti-Yoga practise.
Workshop #1
Betrayal Resentment Forgiveness
Tuesday 15 July
Optional Yoga Class 5pm–545pm
Workshop 6pm–715pm
Dinner 715pm+

​Betrayal is one of the most painful experiences, which touches almost every life at some point.  How to recover, reconcile our jagged edges and rejuvenate?  How to forgive so we are no longer paradoxically chained to and controlled by the betrayer?​
Workshop #2

Beyond Ego​
Tuesday 22 July
Optional Yoga Class 5pm–545pm
Workshop 6pm–715pm
Dinner 715pm+
​We often think to be totally free from ego is the ideal, but yoga psychology has a surprise for us: there is false ego, cause of all darkened qualities: clashes, frustrations, selfishness, fear, anxiety…, and then real ego – the pure self, cause of all luminous qualities: harmony, selflessness, deep intelligence and connection. How to access that real ego? Yoga science offers practical techniques anyone can apply.
Workshop #3
Uprooting Anger
Tuesday 29 July
Optional Yoga Class 5pm-545pm
Workshop 6pm–715pm
Dinner 715pm+
​Anger, who needs it? and the things we do while angry… and regret later! Yoga Psychology fingers desire for the impermanent as the cause of anger, and it’s remedy: re-routing desire to a higher level. How to do that? Yoga science specialises in the art of desire management with simple, practical solutions.
$!2 per workshop ($10 students)
or $30 for all 3 ($20 students)
Prices include optional Yoga Class, Workshop and Dinner.
yogapsychology

 


Radha Damodara Sigatoka
→ Ramai Swami

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During the festival of Fiji devotees traveled to the Sigatoka temple of Sri Sri Radha Damodara. This 3 storey temple sits majestically on top of a hill that overlooks the town.

Devotees went chanting through the markets and streets and at night there was a beautiful boat festival for small Radha and Krishna. The next day we had a big harinama at Nandi, which is a town very close to the airport.
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Our Cancún Trip–Part 2 Beach, Harinam and Book Distribution
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

On Sunday we were able to visit the ISKCON farm and we had just one day left.  So Monday we finally took our dip in the ocean.  We left out early to visit the clear ocean and do a little exploring. 





This guy was the smaller one.  Both were waiting near the bus stop.










In front of Plaza la Isla shopping center we got to meet this friendly spider monkey.   He was very friendly and climbed on our heads and our hands.   When some more kids showed up and started petting him he got a little nervous and bit Visakha finger.  He also doesn’t like cameras so he doesn’t look happy picture as well.   Here you can see him give an upset squeak to the camera.


 

It tickled.  As a Father’s Day present Krishna Mangala had me sit in one of these. 



We distributed a book to the guy running it.





After our little exploration we went to Gopal’s Vegetarian restaurant for some prasadam, harinam kirtan, and spiritual book distribution. Smile









The airport was like a shopping mall trying to confiscate the last of your money. 




 

The plane ride was wonderful.  I was originally supposed to sit next to this nice older couple but my seat was changed to sit next to these two young sisters from Austin.  One was 13 and the other was 15.  The older one started to ask me about my attire.   She then began to explain to me that she is doing a study on the nature of happiness.  From that point on we had a wonderful discussion about happiness, the soul, reincarnation, devotional service and the three modes of nature.   She told me that she is generally quite afraid of flying but did not think about during this flight because of the interesting discussion.   She was very happy to receive a copy of the Bhagavad Gita in Spanish.   It is always nice to bring some BBT books with you where ever you go.  This what she wrote me on Facebook

  Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you as well. I enjoyed learning about the ancient Indian culture and I have different views of the world now. Thank you so much!
to see the pics that you missed click here.

TEXAS FAITH 131: In love and marriage, do different faiths really matter in America?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,
Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.
Recently, I attended the beautiful wedding of two friends, one from a Jewish family and one from a Christian family. The ceremony largely followed the Jewish tradition with occasional mention of the bride’s Christian upbringing.
I began to wonder, witnessing this blending of two people into one couple bound under God, what place separate faiths really serve in our society. If we are honest, there is no justifying the fundamental difference in belief between Christians and Jews or the other major faiths. But in cases like these, it is our cultural homogeneity that is more important than the tenets of our faith.
Given that, what does faith really mean in circumstances like these? Is faith or religion simply ceremonial? Or are we overcoming divisions in the name of something greater – that is – love?
Read our panelists’ responses below.










NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Marriage is not just about an attraction of two parties but also those two parties working together to help each other to attain true happiness.  True happiness is found by connecting beyond the temporary to the Supreme Being.  Because marriage relates to that progressive spiritual advancement in the service of God, considerations of compatibility should not be ignored.  The spiritual ideology, or how we see ourselves at our core, and how we individually apply such spiritual ideology must be taken into consideration.  Incompatibilities certainly exist within those of the same tradition.  Therefore it is important in all cases to see that both parties can properly help each other's growth towards true spiritual happiness.
To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

The mayavadi’s service
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 June 2014, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.5.14)

maxresdefaultEverything ultimately reminds us of Krsna and attachment to Krsna becomes very deep. This is where philosophy comes to life. What is the point of philosophy without attachment? What is the point? It is nice to understand that Krsna is behind everything. Knowledge helps to sort of see the purpose of life. There is no point really in getting so attached to material things.

Without attachment to Krsna, philosophy has not found its real meaning. Therefore it is attachment to Krsna that makes all the difference. That is the key. Attachment to Krsna is the key that changes reality. When we look upon this world with attachment to Krsna, then we see endless opportunities for the glorification of Krsna. Such nice flowers… for Krsna. Everything!

So it is attachment to Krsna that is really going to automatically change our vision. (Acquiring) knowledge that is a cumbersome exercise. Philosophical knowledge provides us a cumbersome exercise to again apply it to reality.

“This looks really attractive. Wait a minute, wait a minute. It is temporary. Okay. Fair enough but, ah, I see.”
Philosophy relativizes it. “You know, it is damn beautiful but it is temporary therefore do not bother.”

Attachment to Krsna does not require us to relativize anything. Anything is seen in its relationship with Krsna. “How can I use it for Krsna?” The more one sees like that, the more one finds an application.

One of my favourite stprabhupada12401ories is how Prabhupada did this program and a mayavadi was also there. Some mayavadi from India was also speaking and at the end, he gave Prabhupada brochures of his ashram.

He showed him the brochure and Prabhupada said, “Oh, nice brochure, very nice.” It was one of those three-fold brochures, glossy and everything. Prabhupada said, “Oh, very good quality. Nice brochure.”
The man said, “Oh, you like the brochure?”
Then he said, “Yes, yes.”
“Then I will give you a whole box!”
So he gave Prabhupada a whole box. Prabhupada said, “Thank you very much.”

Then he told the devotees to keep the box and at one point during the Sunday feast lecture, Prabhupada asked for the box. He said, “Those brochures from the program, we have that box?”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

“Please bring.” So they brought the box and then Prabhupada said, “Distribute the brochures.”
The devotees were thinking, “Mayavadi brochures? Distribute the brochures? What is going on?”

All the brochures were distributed and Prabhupada said, “Did everyone get a brochure? Did everyone get a brochure?” Then he said, “Okay, now open the brochure. Yes, open the brochure and put it in front of you.”

Then he asked the devotees to serve prasadam on those brochures and he used the brochures as plates because they were so glossy; they used them as plates! In this way, Prabhupada engaged these mayavada brochures in the service of Krsna and in that way, the mayavadi, for his sincere offering to Prabhupada, of giving him a whole box, made so much advancement. This is seeing with attachment to Krsna.

IMG_2492When one sees with attachment to Krsna, one sees all kinds of applications. When one sees with knowledge, then it may be, “Oh…whisky, whisky, whisky,” but Prabhupada simply said, “Krsna is the taste in whisky.” That is seeing with attachment to Krsna so it is that attachment to Krsna that is the key, the key to actually see things as they are and to really appreciate everything in the service of Krsna.

Who says you cannot use whisky in the service of Krsna? You can! The only thing is it is meant for the outside, not for the inside. If you have a cut on your finger, it is a good disinfectant. It does the job. I have seen it in many Western movies, right, where the cowboys take the whisky and put it on the bullet wound, and it always seemed to work. So in this way, application of matter in the service of Krsna requires intelligence and attachment to Krsna and that is the key, dadāmi buddhi-yogaḿ taḿ (Bhagavad-gita 10.10). Krsna gives us the intelligence by which we can come to him.

 

 

Saturday Night Harinam (21-06-2014)
→ simple thoughts

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“WE ARE THEIR GOOD FORTUNE.”

Once on a morning walk in St James’ Park in London (1972/3) after passing a hippy sleeping on a park bench, Srila Prabhupada said

“By good fortune they can all come to Krsna Consciousness”
…
Wishing to understand further what His Divine Grace meant by ‘good fortune’

I said

“Srila Prabhupada, we understand from your books and teachings that nothing happens by chance, can you please explain what you mean by ‘good fortune’

After walking on for about a minute, all of a sudden Srila Prabhupada stopped, turned and looked me directly in the face, and stated firmly

“WE are their good fortune”

In this beautiful video you will see my favourite street kirtaneer, his Grace Govinda Prabhu, leading the distribution of this ‘good fortune’ to thousands of West End visitors last night.

Special thanks to the many enthusiastic Vaisnavas who help every Saturday Night to distribute 2,000 copies of the FULL COLOUR, 16 page booklet, “ON CHANTING HARE KṚṢṆA”.

This MOST important little booklet is full of “Good Fortune”.

It has an invitation to the two prominent London temples as well as Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant on the inside front cover. PLUS a clear and straight forward explanation of

What is the Hare Krsna Movement

Who is Srila Prabhupada

What is REAL peace formula – written by Srila Prabhupada

How and why one should Chant Hare Krsna – written by Srila Prabhupada

And finally another short piece by Srila Prabhupada explaining the origins of the Hare Krsna Movement

All in all it is the PERFECT introduction to the Krsna Consciousness Movement.

At present we have about 100,000 in stock here in the UK for anybody that wants to hand them out around a Kirtan Party.

These were printed by a business man disciple of Srila Prabhupada, His Grace Palaka prabhu from Washington DC. He pays for them with the fruit of his hard work and makes them available for world wide distribution – completely FREE of charge. So far he has printed and distributed over 2.3 million copies. His goal is to distribute 10 million. In this service he is fully backed by his local GBC man – His Grace Anuttama prabhu. Please help this MOST sincere effort.

Selecting our association without being judgmental or offensive
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Outline:

1. Association is the most precious blessing

2. Association with like-minded and affectionate devotees

3. Surrender is not just an emotion but also an action - surrender by choosing favorable association within devotee circle.

4. Two kinds of favourable association: that which inspires us to serve Krishna generically and that which inspires us in our specific service to Krishna

5. Inspiration from association can be cultural, intellectual or emotional.

 

Book Distribution at Global Indian Festival (Album 21 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The Global Indian Festival is in its 12th year of operation having successfully grown both in reputation and impact as a significant event in the Malaysian Calendar of Flagship Events. Among the many exhibitors present, ISKCON stands out as not only the representative of the literature of India, but also that of our forefathers the Great Land of Bharatavarsa. Srila Prabupada's books represent this indivisible feature of India's history. Read more ›

Jagannatha Snana-Yatra – Sunday, June 29, 2014
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

A sure sign that the annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) is just around the corner (July 12-13, 2014) is the annual Jagannatha Snana-Yatra festival! Snana-Yatra, a wonderful festival, wherein Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama and Lady Subhadra will be bathed amidst amazing kirtan and chanting!

The bathing ceremony will tentatively take place from 6:45-8:00pm. Please note that Lord Jagannatha's altar will not be open for the 8:00pm Arati. After the bathing ceremony (Snana-Yatra), Lord Jagannātha apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private quarters, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period the body of the Jagannātha Deity is repainted, this is called nava-yauvana.

During the Ratha-Yatra Festival on July 12th, Lord Jagannātha will once again come before the public. Thus for thirteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is not visible to any visitors! Don't miss out this last opportunity to see Lord Jagannatha before his grand Ratha-Yatra festival!

The tentative schedule for the evening will be as follows:
   6:00pm to 6:30pm – Kirtan (Arati)
   6:30pm to 6:45pm – Welcome & Announcements
   6:45pm to 8:00pm – Deity Bathing Ceremony (Snana-Yatra)
   8:00pm to 8:30pm  - Kirtan (Arati)
   8:30pm to 9:30pm – Vegetarian Feast (Prasadam)


Sunday, June 22nd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia

Against Green


Against the green mountain backdrop, I appear like a tiny saffron speck, I’m told.  When Karuna joins me on the road with his usually orangey coloured wear, we are two obvious specks.  Although small in dimension, we stand out at a distance.  The only object that might be standing in our way is another mountain, and as the road circumvents these giants, a driver coming around the bend will suddenly see those two specks become bigger and bigger until he passes us by.

I had a conversation with myself this morning, “Am I a speck?  Because I’m certainly not a saffron clad swami or a monk.  The monk is only a position or a role that’s played out.  I’m not these saffron robes either, they are a cover for the body.  And the body is a cover for the soul.  I am a soul, which is a mere speck according to Vedic authority.”

But my conversation with myself continued, “The self, or the atma (Vedic terms), is small, nevertheless, significant.”  I kept thinking, “When I walk along the road, tiniest of bugs may land upon my bald head.  Despite the bugs’ minuteness, I feel his presence significantly, especially if he bites.  Small can be profound, even important.  When we identify with our tiny spirit or soul and we come to the point of service, to the big Spirit from Whom we’ve come, then we become very significant.”

May the Source be with you!

35 KM